Hay-loader.



No. 761,710. 7 PATBNTED JUNE 7, 1904.

' G. PLUMMER.

HAY LOADEBM APPLICATION FILED H0128, 1903. 10 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET L wi/m "-i in 1 x f i w yL R a grant? 3 PATENTBD JUNE 7, 1904. G. PLUMMER.HAY LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED nov. 28, 1903.

V 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO- MODEL.v

Grad/Wane;

' No. 761.710. PATENTED JUNE 7,1904.

G. PLUMMER. HAY LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1903.

no 110mm. 3 sums-4mm a.

Grant fflumnzel; 51mm THE Nonm s PETERS co, HOTO-Luna, WASHINGTON, Bic!Patented June 7, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GRANT PLUMMER, OF SALINA, KANSAS.

HAY-LOADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 761,710, dated June'7, 1904. Application filed November 28, 1903. Serial No- 183,050. (Nomodel.)

T (Ii/l whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GRANT PLUMMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salina, in the county of Saline andState of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Hay-Loader,

' of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel hay-loader of that type in which awheeled frame, propelled by draft-animals, equipped with a vertically-movable fork normally disposed in position to constitute a rakeand tiltably mounted upon its support in order to permit the dumping ofa load accumulated by the fork in the normal position thereof andsubsequently elevated to the top of a stack.

Theobject of the invention is to improve the construction andmounting ofthe fork and to provide novel means operated bythe ad- Vance of theloader to elevate the-fork;

A further object of the invention is toprovide means whereby thefork-elevating mech anism may be thrown into and out of operation andthe fork retained in its elevated position, so. that a load of hayhaving been accumulated by thevfork and the latter raised the machinemay be transported from a winnow to the stack, with the fork heldstation' 'ary during such movement.

A furtherobject ,ofjthe invention is to so mount the fork that itwill bedumped by the weight of the load when released and will thenautomatically resume its normal position with relation to thefork-frame.

Subordinate to the recited objects are various others which willappear-during the succeeding description of the illustrated embodi mentof the invention,

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is a perspective'view of myhay-loader complete, the fork being inits normal or depressed positionin close proximity to the ground to facilitate the accumulation'of aload of hay as the loader is advanced. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsectional View of the subjectmatter of Fig. 1, the elevated and dumpedpositions of the fork being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a planView of the loader With a portion of the fork-elevating mechanism brokenaway in order to more clearly show parts which would otherwise behidden, and

- the bar 13 and disposed below the teeth.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the pawl-andratchet connection betweenone of the carry- "and connected by transverse frame-bars 2, lo-

cated adjacent to the opposite ends of the frame and at intermediatepoints. At a point slightly in advance of the rear end of the base islocated a vertically-disposed arch 3, stiffened by inclined braces 1,extending from the upper end of the arch to the beams 1 at advancedpoints. The frame thus constructed is supported by carrying-Wheels 5-andcasterwheels 6, located, respectively, at the front and rear ends-of theframe. The carrying- Wheels 5 are mounted upon a transversedriving-shaft 7, journaled in-suitable boxing carried by the frame andhaving pawl-and-ratchet connection with the carrying-wheels in a mannerwell understood in the art (see Fig. 1) to compel the rotation of thewheels andshaft when the loader is advanced over the field and to permitindependent rotation of wheels when the loader is backed or turned.

- From the upper end of thearch 3 is swung by any suitable character ofconnection a .ver-- -t1cally-movable fork-frame 8, comprising for-.

wardly-diverging side bars 9 and l0,extended beyond the front end of theframe and carrying a tiltable fork 11. The fork 11 comprises. a seriesof tapering teeth or tines 12, connected at their rear ends to across-bar 13, disposed above the teeth, and also to a second cross-bar11, located somewhat in advanc(eS of ee Fig. 1.) The rigid retention ofthe bar 11 is bar 14 and the end-teeth of the series; Pivotalconnection'between the fork and forkframe is preferably effected bymeans of bearing-brackets 16, attached to the bar 14. and havingpivotalconnection-with the front extremities of the side bars 9 and 10of the fork-frame. This particular charater of connection, however, isnot essential and may insured by braces 15, extending between the besubstituted by any other possessing the necessary durability.

At the rear side of the fork 11 the latter is provided with avertically-disposed guard 17, comprising a series of teeth 18, connectedby a guard-bar 19, which latter is normally engaged by a locking devicein the form of a catch 20, pivotally mounted at its lower end upon atransverse bar 21, connecting the side bars 9 and 10 of the fork-frameat a point in rear of the fork. (See Fig. 2.) Normally the rear bar 13of the fork rests upon the fork-frame, as shown in Fig. 2, and isrigidly retained in such position by the catch 20, the latter beingyieldingly retained in its engaging position by a spring 22, preferablysecured to the catch and having a free end disposed to bear against therear side of the bar 21. hen

the fork-frame is swung up to the position indicated in dotted lines inFig. 2 for the purpose of elevating the load accumulated upon fork, thecatch is drawn back in opposition to the spring 22 by means of a cable23, secured to the catch, and extended back to the drivers seat 24,supported at the rear extremity of the loader-frame. When the catch isthus withdrawn from the fork, the weight of the load of hay accumulatedthereon will tilt the fork to the inclined position, (indicated in Fig.2,) the tilting movement of the fork being limited by any suitable meansas, for instance, a chain 25, secured to the bars 13 and 21,respectively. As soon as the load of hay is discharged from the fork thelatter will tilt back to its normal position upon the forkframe byreason of the fact that the rear end of the fork structure issufficiently heavy to compel this movement.

The fork-elevating mechanism, which embraces the means whereby thefork-frame is raised from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 2, comprises a swinging arch or fulcrum support26, composed of side bars 27 and connecting-braces 28. This arch orsupport is pivotally connected at its lower end to one of the transversebars 2 of the frame-baseas, for instance, by means of bearing-brackets29, secured to said bar 2 and having pivotal connection with the lowerends of the bar 27 Between the upper extremities of the bars 27 isextended a transverse shaft 30, constituting the fulcrum of afork-elevating lever 31. The lever 31 is in the form of a trussed frameincluding side bars 32, equipped intermediate of their ends withbearing-brack ets 33, mounted upon the shaft 30 adjacent to its oppositeends, but preferably opposed to the inner sides of the side bars 27 ofthe swinging fulcrum-support, which latter thus constitutes means forpreventing undue lateral vibration of the lever. The side bars 32, whichdiverge toward their front ends have terminal pivotal connections withthe transverse bar 21 of the fork-frame by means of suitablebearing-brackets, so that when the lever is swung by power applied tothe rear end thereof the fork-frame will be swung up for the purpose ofelevating a load of hay accumulated upon the fork. As has been premised,this application of power to the fork-raising lever is effected by theadvance of the loader.

Upon the shaft 7 at a point within the confines of the frame is looselymounted a drum 34, upon which is wound one end of a forkelevating cable35, passed around a pulley 36, secured to one of the bars 2 adjacent tothe rear end of the frame. The opposite end of the cable is attached tothe rear end of the lever 31 and when wound upon the drum in a manner tobe described causes the lever to swing and the fork to be elevated bythe upward movement of the fork-frame. On one end of the drum 34 isformed a clutch-face 37, designed to be engaged by a clutch-collar 33,splined upon the shaft 7 and urged toward the drum by a spring 39. Thecollar 38 is designed to be withdrawn from engagement with the drum bymeans of a bell crank clutch member 40, mounted on one of the transversebars 2 of the frame-base and connected to a rod 42, extending to ahand-lever 43, arranged immediately in advance of the drivers seat andprovided, as usual, with a spring-latch engaging a toothed segn'ient 44to retain the lever in its adjusted positions. When the loader isadvanced, the carryingwheels rotate the shaft 7 and the clutch-collar38, the latter serving to rotate the drum and to wind the cable 35thereon.

It will be obvious that after the fork is loaded and elevated it may bedesired to transport the leader a considerable distance to the stack,and as the clutch-collar33 will be withdrawn from the drum during suchmovement means must be provided for preventing the reverse rotation ofthe drum, so that the latter will not be prematurely lowered by theunwinding of the cable. The present embodiment of such means comprises abrakeband 45, passed around one end of the drum 34 and having oneextremity secured to the adjacent frame-bar 2. The free end of thebrake-band 45 is attached to a brake-rod 46, connected to a brake-lever47 similar to the lever 43 and likewise having a spring-catch engagingthe segmental rack 44. \Vhen the fork has been raised, the brake-lever47 may be manipulated to apply the brake to the drum, and the machinemay be transported to the stack after first withdrawing the clutchcollar38 from engagement with the drum.

Any suitable means for attaching the draftanimals to the loader may beprovided; but by preference a draft-bar 48 is bolted to the frame-baseimmediately in rear of the arch 3 and is provided at its opposite endswith swingletrees 49. The usual hold-back chains 50 are connected to theside bars 1 of the. framc-base at the proper points, and these bars arealso provided with loops 51 for the attachment of the head-straps.

Briefly, theoperation of the loader is as follows: The device, organizedas shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is drawn over the field, and thefork acting as a bull-rake accumulates the load of hay. The clutch lever43 is then manipulated to permit the engagement of the drum by theclutch collar 38, and a farther advance of the machine will thus effectthe rotation of the drum, such motion being communicated thereto fromthe carrying-wheels. As the drum rotates,the cable 35 will be woundthereon, drawing down the rear end of the lever 31. The swinging of saidlever will necessarily be accompanied by the swinging of the fork-framefrom the rear arch, and as thelever is connected to said frame itfollows that as the latter moves. up the fulcrum of the lever willshift. It is to accommodate this shifting movement of the fulcrum thatthe swinging support 26 is provided.v As the ver 37 is manipulated toapply the brake, the

lever 43 is manipulated to disconnect the drum from the shaft, and theloader is advanced toward the stack. When the stack is reached, theoperator, by apull upon the cable 35, withdraws the catch from theguard-bar 19 of the fork, the latter is tilted forward under the weightof the hay, and as soon as the latter is discharged upon the stack thefork drops back and is reengaged by the catch. The loader is nowadvanced for a new load, and having arrived at the proper point thebrake is released to permit the fork-frame and fork to drop back totheir initial positions for a repetition of the described operation.

It is thought that from the foregoing the construction, operation, andmany advantages of my improved hay-loader will be clearly apparent; butwhile the present embodiment of the invention is thought'at this time tobe preferable I desire to reserve the right to effeet such changes,modifications, and variations of the illustrated structure as may fallfairly within the scope of the protection prayed.

What I claim is 1. In a hay-loader, the combination with a wheeledframe; of a swinging fork-frame mounted thereon, a tiltable fork mountedon the fork-frame, and a lever fulorumed above the fork frame andarranged to elevate the latter.

2. In a hay-loader, the combination with a wheeled frame; of a swingingfork-frame carried thereby, a fork tiltably mounted on the fork frame, aswinging fulcrum support mounted on the wheeled frame, and a leverfulcrumed on said support and connected with the fork-frame to elevatethe same. I

3. In a hay-loader, the combination with a wheeled frame; of an archlocated at the rear end thereof, a fork-frame swung from said arch andextended beyond the front end of the wheeled frame, a tiltable forkcarried by the fork frame, a lever connected with the fork-frame toelevate the same, and a swinging fulcrum-support for said lever.

4:. In a hay-loader, the combination with a wheeled frame; of an archrising from said frame adjacent to the rear end thereof, an openfork-frame swung from the upper end of said arch, a tiltable forkmounted at the front end of the fork-frame, a lever for raising thefork-frame, and a swinging fulcrumsupport for said lever, said supportbeing mounted on the wheeled frame and extended upwardly through thefork-frame.

5. In a hay-loader, the combination with a wheeled frame, a swingingfork-frame mount- 7 ed thereon, and a tiltable fork mounted at one endof the fork-frame; of a swinging support carried by the wheeled frame,and a lever fulcrumed on 'said support and connected with the fork-frameto elevate the same, said lever having the form of an open trussedframe.

6. In a hay-loader, the combination with a frame, carrying-wheelstherefor, a shaft having pawl-and-ratehet connection with theearrying-wheels, a drum mounted on the shaft,

and a clutch controlling the connection between the drum and shaft; of aswinging forkframe, a fork carried thereby, an operativelyrelated leverfor elevating the fork-frame, and a cable connected to one end of thelever and wound upon the drum.

7. In a hay-loader, the combination with a frame carrying-wheelstherefor, a shaft having pawl-and-ratchet connection with thecarrying-wheels, a drum mounted on the shaft, a clutch controlling theconnection between the shaft and drum, a brake associated with the drum,and levers located at the rear end of the frame and having operativeconnections with the clutch and brake, respectively;

' of a swinging fork-frame, a fork tiltably carried thereby, anoperatively-related lever for raising the fork-frame, a swingingfulcrumsupport for said lever, and a cable extending from the drum tothe lever.

8. In a hayloader,the combination with a frame provided at its rear endwith a vertically-disposed arch; of a shaft located at the front end ofthe frame, wheels supporting the shaft and having operative connectiontherewith, a fork-frame swung from the upper end of the arch, a tiltablefork mounted on the fork-frame, an operatively-related lever forelevating the fork-frame, a swingingfulerumsupport mounted on the mainframe of the loader and extended upwardly through the fork-frame, a drummounted on the shaft, a cable wound on the drum and connected to &

one end of the lever, a clutch controlling the connection between theshaft and drum, a brake for preventing reverse rotation of the drum, acatch normally retaining the fork against tilting movement. and meanslocated at the rear end of the main frame for operat ing the catch, thebrake and the clutch.

9. In a hay-loader, the combination with a frame provided at its rearend with a vertically-disposed arch; of a shaft located at the front endof the frame, wheels supporting the shaft and having operativeconnection therewith, a fork-frame swung from the upper end of the arch,a tiltable fork mounted on the fork-frame, an operatively-related leverfor elevating the fork-frame and fulcrumed above the same, a drummounted on the shaft, acablc wound on the drum and connected to one endof the lever, a clutch controlling the connection between the shaft anddrum, a brake for preventing reverse rotation of the drum, a catchnormally retaining the fork against tilting movement, and means locatedat the rear end of the main frame for operating the catch, the brake andthe clutch.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

G RANT PLUMM Ell.

\Vitnesses:

"ALTER l\NI'I"ILE, D. S. BROT'ION.

